It must suck to spout off all summer about how horrid this team was going to be and then see them sitting at 5-1 after 6 games.

The Flyer Faithful (including me) and Butler fans are both surprised and delighted that Xavier is 5-1 after 6 games.

As I have posted here year after year, I root for all Atlantic 10 teams to win all of their non-conference games - for the sake of the Atlantic 10's Conference RPI Ranking and the Dayton Flyers' Strength of Schedule, which accounts for 75% of Dayton's RPI Rannking. Ditto for Butler.

This season, Dayton and Butler both play Xavier twice, so a bad performance by Xavier in their non-conference games does twice the damage to Dayton's and Butler's S.O.S. compared to the other 13 Atlantic 10 teams.

On Saturday, Xavier should go to 6-1, as Matt Painter has apparently fielded his worst team since the 2005-06 season - his rookie year as Purdue's Head Coach.

Quote:

2012-13:

Matt Painter begins his eighth head coaching season at Purdue after losing three senior starters from the previous season, which included All-American Robbie Hummel and point guard Lewis Jackson.

Also leaving the program were would-be seniors in shooting guard John Hart (transferred to IUPUI Jaguars) and suspended guard/forward Kelsey Barlow (transferred to Illinois-Chicago Flames), which leaves Painter with nine underclassmen and with just five upperclassmen and includes last season's Big Ten's Sixth Man of the Year and All-Conference Honorable Mention senior DJ Byrd.

Painter's raw and young squad began the 2013 season with a 1-3 record, where Purdue lost its season opener for the first time during the Painter-era against Bucknell.

Purdue went on to lose both games at Madison Square Garden during the 2012 Preseason NIT Tip-Off by 8 points each against Villanova and Oregon State.

Who knew that constant criticism, desparaging the coach and college for perceived inadequacies, continual efforts to belittle success, attributing talent and achievement to luck and good fortune, and never-ending forecasts of doom and gloom....were all actually "rooting for" a team?

The only part of the Xavier game I saw yesterday was the strange shot clock violation discussion. Then I flipped back and got lost in RedZone bliss again and didn't see the final determination. What the heck was the call there? Did they go back and pretend parts of the game never happened?

__________________
Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism.

The only part of the Xavier game I saw yesterday was the strange shot clock violation discussion. Then I flipped back and got lost in RedZone bliss again and didn't see the final determination. What the heck was the call there? Did they go back and pretend parts of the game never happened?

They took away Stenger's bucket and the foul they called on the Drake player and gave Drake the ball. It was the right call because Semaj's shot never hit the rim.

They took away Stenger's bucket and the foul they called on the Drake player and gave Drake the ball. It was the right call because Semaj's shot never hit the rim.

How long do the refs have to reverse that? By that I mean they literally took away the whole next sequence where a Drake guy got called for a foul too. What if it were 4 plays later? Would they reset all that too?

The topic of this thread is 2012-2013 Xavier Musketeers – not Dayton fans.

Try to stay on topic.

Way to make blanket statements without doing the research.

THE FAVORITE

Xavier: Major caveat alert: I could make a reasonable argument for Saint Mary's, Cal or even a banged-up Drexel, because I'm not really sure there is one clear favorite in this group of teams. But if I have to pick, I suppose I'll take the squad that shut down Butler just one week before Butler beat Marquette and drilled North Carolina in Maui. The transitive property is a fickle siren, but this early in the season it has to mean something.

How long do the refs have to reverse that? By that I mean they literally took away the whole next sequence where a Drake guy got called for a foul too. What if it were 4 plays later? Would they reset all that too?

Sent from my Galaxy Nexus using VerticalSports.Com App

You have through the next stoppage of play. Once the ball is put back in play after a stoppage, all past plays are final.

__________________
Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism.

As far as Xavier being 5-1, I'm not sure many people would have predicted them to start much worse than that. Maybe the Butler game. I think most expected a 2-1 trip to Anaheim, just not in the way they ultimately did it. I think most (and by most I mean honest and intelligent people, not internet trolls) have known Xavier's litmus test will be in December.

Those are the games that will let us know where Xavier stands. With the exception of Vandy, all still look like real tests. They are either good teams, away from Cintas, or both.

Wofford is a win, so a 4-3 December record would seem reasonable. Anything better is great, anything worse should give pause.

__________________
Sure, I've been called a xenophobe, but the truth is, I'm not. I honestly just feel that America is the best country and the other countries aren't as good. That used to be called patriotism.

As far as Xavier being 5-1, I'm not sure many people would have predicted them to start much worse than that. Maybe the Butler game. I think most expected a 2-1 trip to Anaheim, just not in the way they ultimately did it. I think most (and by most I mean honest and intelligent people, not internet trolls) have known Xavier's litmus test will be in December.

Those are the games that will let us know where Xavier stands. With the exception of Vandy, all still look like real tests. They are either good teams, away from Cintas, or both.

Wofford is a win, so a 4-3 December record would seem reasonable. Anything better is great, anything worse should give pause.

I agree with all this. Thought might be 4-2, but 5-1 wan't crazy given the schedule. People tend to forget that Martin, Davis, Christon etc...pretty damn good high school players and recruits. Cupboard not totally bare.

If there was ever a season to go to Purdue, Tennessee and Wake...it would be this one. While no wins guaranteed, I have watched all three play, and they are all beatable.